
The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences will use a $1 million gift to advance research on triple negative breast cancer.
The gift is from the estate of former Arkansas insurance commissioner and Stephens Inc. managing director Linda Garner Riggs, who died in November.
“This gift will have long-lasting effects on UAMS’ ability to help women living with breast cancer,” interim UAMS chancellor Stephanie Gardner said. “We are grateful to Mrs. Riggs for this transforming gift, which provides vital funds for our ongoing initiative for cancer research.”
A native of Fordyce, Riggs worked for close to 10 years in state government, serving as director of the research and committee staff of the Arkansas Legislature, as legislative and budgetary director for Gov. Frank White and as insurance commissioner. She later joined Stephens Inc. and worked for 25 years in corporate finance and as managing director of investment banking.
In appreciation of her gift, Riggs will be honored as a member of the 1879 Society of UAMS, recognizing all individuals who have made estate gifts to the university.
“Linda lived an exemplary life, and I was so privileged to know her and be her partner in it,” said Riggs’ husband, Lamar Riggs of Little Rock. “She was a wonderful example and role model to anyone who wanted to become a better person.”
Triple negative breast cancer is diagnosed in up to 20 percent of cases and is more likely to occur in younger people, African-Americans, Hispanics and those with the BRCA1 gene mutation. The cancer cells do not contain the hormones estrogen and progesterone or the protein HER2, meaning the most common hormonal therapies for breast cancer are not effective for women with this form of the disease.
Triple negative breast cancer is often aggressive and likely to spread or return after the initial diagnosis.
NCI-designated cancer centers are recognized for their scientific leadership, resources and research in basic, clinic and population science. There are 69 designated cancer centers in the United States, and the cancer institute is in the process of pursuing the nationally recognized status.
“We are honored and humbled that Mrs. Riggs designated the UAMS Cancer Institute as a recipient for this generous gift from her estate,” said institute director Peter Emanuel, who serves as a professor in the UAMS College of Medicine Division of Hematology.
“Her foresight and dedication to the importance of cancer research will enable us to expand our efforts at understanding the causes of and improving the treatments for women with triple negative breast cancer and will move us closer to achieving National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation,” he said.